Monday, May 14, 2012

And you thought the Fiat 500 was a cutie! I had a treat today in seeing this little gem buzzing down Seattle's Queen Anne Ave N. It's a 1957 BMW Isetta 300. The owner walked up as I was taking this shot and shared this bit of information with me. He then opened up the front of the car and got in via the dash board door. He said it runs on a BMW motorcycle engine. There are 4 wheels, but the the back two are spaced very close together. The owner said at one time previous models had three wheels, but this was modified for stability. I really loved seeing this and wish it were still being made. It would be a super choice for today's city driver.

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

When I heard this week that Maurice Sendak had passed away at age 83, I thought of all the enjoyment I've had over the years reading his books with and to children. I hear the little voices of kids at our preschool who memorize and recite all the verses each year from his little illustrated jewel, "Chicken Soup With Rice." I thought of this photo I took of a Sendak display made by librarians at the Seattle Central Library. Sendak's drawings are so distinctive. He was an illustrator and author of myriad children's picture books from the 1950s to the present, many of them now classics. He was the costume and set designer of The Pacific Northwest Ballet's beloved Seattle production of "The Nutcracker." Raised in Brooklyn and the son of a Holocaust survivor, he had a long and productive life and was predeceased by his life partner of more than 50 years. Maurice Sendak brought so much understanding, wit, and humor to life in his pages for children. Thanks, Maurice. Generations of your readers will miss you."Going once, going twice, going chicken soup with rice."

Saturday, May 05, 2012

The Charlotte Martin Theatre was designed by Seattle architects Mahlum & Nordfors McKinley Gordon and built almost 20 years ago. I love this building's appearance from all four sides. It features playful uses of shape and surface design. This is the west elevation at street side. The productions of the Seattle Children's Theatre are much loved by the community.

Friday, May 04, 2012

Nobody's about 'cept me. Painted on the pavement just outside the curvacious EMP is a black and orange Chartres-style labyrinth. This labyrinth is open to the public 24/7 and was painted two years ago this month. All those curvy lines, I just had to capture the scene.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Did you get up to Skagit Valley for the Tulip Festival this year? It ended Sunday. We missed the magic this year. We'll be heading up there in July to help out at New Earth Farm, an organic fruit and veggie farm we buy a CSA share in, and visit friends there who provide all kinds of support services for Skagit area farm workers and their families. If you visit Seattle, be sure to explore this beautiful area to the north.

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Here's a view of the Space Needle's new coat of orange paint, a throw back to the color it wore on its hat when it opened for the 1962 Century 21 World's Fair. I took this with my iPhone in HDR and Instagram.